Chapter 16
An Nahl (The Honey Bee)
16.21
surah 16 - verse 21
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | dead, not alive; and are not aware when they shall be raised. |
| Maududi | they are dead, not living. They do not even know when they will be resurrected. |
| Pickthall | (They are) dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised. |
| Sahih | They are, [in fact], dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected. |
| Yusuf Ali | (They are things) dead, lifeless: nor do they know when they will be raised up. |
16.22
surah 16 - verse 22
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Your God is One God. And they who believe not in the world to come, their hearts deny, and they have waxed proud. |
| Maududi | Your God is the One God. But the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter are steeped in rejection of the Truth, and they are given to arrogance. |
| Pickthall | Your Allah is One Allah. But as for those who believe not in the Hereafter their hearts refuse to know, for they are proud. |
| Sahih | Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant. |
| Yusuf Ali | Your Allah is one Allah: as to those who believe not in the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know, and they are arrogant. |
16.23
surah 16 - verse 23
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Without a doubt God knows what they keep secret and what they publish; He loves not those that wax proud. |
| Maududi | Surely Allah knows all that they conceal and all that they disclose. He certainly does not love those who are steeped in arrogance. |
| Pickthall | Assuredly Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He loveth not the proud. |
| Sahih | Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant. |
| Yusuf Ali | Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal, and what they reveal: verily He loveth not the arrogant. |
16.24
surah 16 - verse 24
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And when it is said to them, 'What has your Lord sent down?' they say, 'Fairy-tales of the ancients.' |
| Maududi | When they are asked: "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" They answer: "They are merely tales of olden times!" |
| Pickthall | And when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old, |
| Sahih | And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Legends of the former peoples," |
| Yusuf Ali | When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "Tales of the ancients!" |
16.25
surah 16 - verse 25
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | That they may bear their loads complete on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the loads of those that they lead astray without any knowledge. O evil the load they bear! |
| Maududi | (They say so) that they may bear the full weight of their burdens on the Day of Resurrection and also of the burdens of those whom they misled on account of their ignorance. What a heavy burden are they undertaking to bear! |
| Pickthall | That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear! |
| Sahih | That they may bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear. |
| Yusuf Ali | Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own burdens in full, and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge, whom they misled. Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear! |
16.26
surah 16 - verse 26
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Those that were before them contrived; then God came upon their building from the foundations, and the roof fell down on them from over them, and the chastisement came upon them from whence they were not aware. |
| Maududi | Surely many people before them had plotted in a similar manner to (vanquish the Truth), but Allah uprooted the whole structure of their plot from its foundations so that the roof fell in upon them, and the chastisement (of Allah) visited them from unknown directions. |
| Pickthall | Those before them plotted, so Allah struck at the foundations of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them from above them, and the doom came on them whence they knew not; |
| Sahih | Those before them had already plotted, but Allah came at their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive. |
| Yusuf Ali | Those before them did also plot (against Allah's Way): but Allah took their structures from their foundations, and the roof fell down on them from above; and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not perceive. |
16.27
surah 16 - verse 27
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Then on the Day of Resurrection He will degrade them, saying, 'Where are My associates concerning which you made a breach together?' Those that were given the knowledge will say, 'Degradation today and evil are on the unbelievers, |
| Maududi | And again, on the Day of Resurrection, He will bring them to disgrace, and say: "Tell Me, now, where are those to whom you ascribed a share in My Divinity, and for whose sake you disputed (with the upholders of the Truth)?" Those who were endowed with knowledge (in the world) will say: "Surely today humiliation and misery shall be the lot of the unbelievers"; |
| Pickthall | Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and will say: Where are My partners, for whose sake ye opposed (My guidance)? Those who have been given knowledge will say: Disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers, |
| Sahih | Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My 'partners' for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?" Those who were given knowledge will say, "Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers" - |
| Yusuf Ali | Then, on the Day of Judgment, He will cover them with shame, and say: "Where are My 'partners' concerning whom ye used to dispute (with the godly)?" Those endued with knowledge will say: "This Day, indeed, are the Unbelievers covered with shame and misery,- |
16.28
surah 16 - verse 28
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | whom the angels take while still they are wronging themselves.' Then they will offer surrender: 'We were doing nothing evil. 'Nay; but surety God has knowledge of the things you did. |
| Maududi | the same unbelievers who, when the angels seize them and cause them to die while they are engaged in wrong-doing, they will proffer their submission saying: "We were engaged in no evil." (The angels will answer them): "Surely Allah knows well all that you did. |
| Pickthall | Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then will they make full submission (saying): We used not to do any wrong. Nay! Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do. |
| Sahih | The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what you used to do. |
| Yusuf Ali | "(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of wrong-doing to their own souls." Then would they offer submission (with the pretence), "We did no evil (knowingly)." (The angels will reply), "Nay, but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did; |
16.29
surah 16 - verse 29
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | So enter the gates of Gehenna, there to dwell forever.' Evil is the lodging of those that wax proud. |
| Maududi | Go now, and enter the gate of Hell, and abide in it for ever. " Evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant. |
| Pickthall | So enter the gates of hell, to dwell therein for ever. Woeful indeed will be the lodging of the arrogant. |
| Sahih | So enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and how wretched is the residence of the arrogant. |
| Yusuf Ali | "So enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein. Thus evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant." |
16.30
surah 16 - verse 30
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And it shall be said to the godfearing, 'What has your Lord sent down?' They will say, 'Good! For those who do good in this world good; and surely the abode of the world to come is better; excellent is the abode of the godfearing -- |
| Maududi | And when the God-fearing are asked: "What has your Lord revealed?" they answer: "Something excellent!" Good fortune in this world awaits those who do good; and certainly the abode of the Hereafter is even better for them. How excellent is the abode of the God-fearing: |
| Pickthall | And it is said unto those who ward off (evil): What hath your Lord revealed? They say: Good. For those who do good in this world there is a good (reward) and the home of the Hereafter will be better. Pleasant indeed will be the home of those who ward off (evil) - |
| Sahih | And it will be said to those who feared Allah, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous - |
| Yusuf Ali | To the righteous (when) it is said, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "All that is good." To those who do good, there is good in this world, and the Home of the Hereafter is even better and excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous,- |
16.31
surah 16 - verse 31
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Gardens of Eden they shall enter, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall have all they will. So God recompenses the godfearing, |
| Maududi | everlasting gardens that they shall enter; the gardens beneath which rivers shall flow, and where they shall have whatever they desire! Thus does Allah reward the God-fearing, |
| Pickthall | Gardens of Eden which they enter, underneath which rivers flow, wherein they have what they will. Thus Allah repayeth those who ward off (evil), |
| Sahih | Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous - |
| Yusuf Ali | Gardens of Eternity which they will enter: beneath them flow (pleasant) rivers: they will have therein all that they wish: thus doth Allah reward the righteous,- |
16.32
surah 16 - verse 32
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | whom the angels take while they are goodly, saying, 'Peace be on you! Enter Paradise for that you were doing.' |
| Maududi | those whose souls the angels seize while they are in a state of purity, saying: "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise as a reward for your deeds." |
| Pickthall | Those whom the angels cause to die (when they are) good. They say: Peace be unto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do. |
| Sahih | The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do." |
| Yusuf Ali | (Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them), "Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden, because of (the good) which ye did (in the world)." |
16.33
surah 16 - verse 33
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Do they look for aught but that the angels shall come to them, or thy Lord's command shall come? So did those before them, and God wronged them not, but themselves they wronged. |
| Maududi | (O Muhammad), are they waiting for anything else than that the angels should appear before them, or that your Lord's judgement should come? Many before them acted with similar temerity. And then what happened with them was not Allah's wrong-doing; they rather wronged themselves. |
| Pickthall | Await they aught say that the angels should come unto them or thy Lord's command should come to pass? Even so did those before them. Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves, |
| Sahih | Do the disbelievers await [anything] except that the angels should come to them or there comes the command of your Lord? Thus did those do before them. And Allah wronged them not, but they had been wronging themselves. |
| Yusuf Ali | Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to them, or there comes the Command of thy Lord (for their doom)? So did those who went before them. But Allah wronged them not: nay, they wronged their own souls. |
16.34
surah 16 - verse 34
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | So the evil things that they wrought. smote them, and they were encompassed by that they mocked at. |
| Maududi | The evil consequences of their misdeeds overtook them and what they mocked at overwhelmed them. |
| Pickthall | So that the evils of what they did smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them. |
| Sahih | So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did and were enveloped by what they used to ridicule. |
| Yusuf Ali | But the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that very (Wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed them in. |
16.35
surah 16 - verse 35
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | The idolators say, 'If God had willed we would not have served; apart from Him, anything, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden, apart from Him, anything.' So did those before them; yet is aught for the Messengers, but to deliver the manifest Message? |
| Maududi | Those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity say: "Were Allah to will so, neither we nor our forefathers would have worshipped any other than Him, nor would we have prohibited anything without His command." Their predecessors proffered similar excuses. Do the Messengers have any other duty but to plainly convey the Message? |
| Pickthall | And the idolaters say: Had Allah willed, we had not worshipped aught beside Him, we and our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught without (command from) Him. Even so did those before them. Are the messengers charged with aught save plain conveyance (of the message)? |
| Sahih | And those who associate others with Allah say, "If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification? |
| Yusuf Ali | The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of messengers but to preach the Clear Message? |
16.36
surah 16 - verse 36
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Indeed, We sent forth among every nation a Messenger,; saying: 'Serve you God, and eschew idols.' Then some. of them God guided, and some were justly disposed to error. So journey in the land, and behold how was the end of them that cried lies. |
| Maududi | We raised a Messenger in every community (to tell them): "Serve Allah and shun the Evil One." Thereafter Allah guided some of them while others were overtaken by error. Go about the earth, then, and observe what was the end of those who rejected the Messengers, calling them liars. |
| Pickthall | And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers! |
| Sahih | And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers. |
| Yusuf Ali | For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), "Serve Allah, and eschew Evil": of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). |
16.37
surah 16 - verse 37
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Though thou art ever so eager to guide them, God guides not those whom He leads astray; they have no helpers. |
| Maududi | (O Muhammad), howsoever eager you may be to show them the Right Way, Allah does not bestow His guidance on those whom He lets go astray; and in fact none will be able to help them. |
| Pickthall | Even if thou (O Muhammad) desirest their right guidance, still Allah assuredly will not guide him who misleadeth. Such have no helpers. |
| Sahih | [Even] if you should strive for their guidance, [O Muhammad], indeed, Allah does not guide those He sends astray, and they will have no helpers. |
| Yusuf Ali | If thou art anxious for their guidance, yet Allah guideth not such as He leaves to stray, and there is none to help them. |
16.38
surah 16 - verse 38
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | have sworn by God the most earnest oaths God will never raise up him who dies; nay, it is a promise binding upon Him, but most men know not, |
| Maududi | They swear most solemnly in the name of Allah and say: "Allah shall not raise to life any who dies." (Yes, He will do so); that is a promise by which He is bound, even though most people do not know that. |
| Pickthall | And they swear by Allah their most binding oaths (that) Allah will not raise up him who dieth. Nay, but it is a promise (binding) upon Him in truth, but most of mankind know not, |
| Sahih | And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths [that] Allah will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know. |
| Yusuf Ali | They swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that Allah will not raise up those who die: Nay, but it is a promise (binding) on Him in truth: but most among mankind realise it not. |
16.39
surah 16 - verse 39
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | so that He may make clear to them that whereon they were at variance, and that the unbelievers may know that they were truly liars. |
| Maududi | (That is bound to happen in order that) He may make clear to them the reality regarding the matters on which they differ and that the unbelievers may realize that they were liars. |
| Pickthall | That He may explain unto them that wherein they differ, and that those who disbelieved may know that they were liars. |
| Sahih | [It is] so He will make clear to them [the truth of] that wherein they differ and so those who have disbelieved may know that they were liars. |
| Yusuf Ali | (They must be raised up), in order that He may manifest to them the truth of that wherein they differ, and that the rejecters of Truth may realise that they had indeed (surrendered to) Falsehood. |
16.40
surah 16 - verse 40
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | The only words We say to a thing, when We desire it, is that We say to it 'Be,' and it is. |
| Maududi | (As for the possibility of resurrection, bear in mind that) whenever We do will something, We have to do no more than say: "Be", and it is. |
| Pickthall | And Our word unto a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: Be! and it is. |
| Sahih | Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is. |
| Yusuf Ali | For to anything which We have willed, We but say the word, "Be", and it is. |